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www.le.ac.uk/physics
Careers in Physics- and life as a professional astronomer
www.le.ac.uk/physics
So you’re thinking of a career in physics?
Physics covers every length scale and every temporal scale in the Universe
Physics is everywhere!
And physicists are everywhere…
There are many, many career opportunities for physicists
www.le.ac.uk/physics
Careers in physicswhat do physicists do?
Physics as a route to other careers- and why physicists are always in demand
Some statistics!
Life as a professional Astrophysicisthow to get into academic research- and what you do once you get there
www.le.ac.uk/physics
What do physicists do?
E E=mc2
www.le.ac.uk/physics
What do physicists do?
Physics is brilliant!
www.le.ac.uk/physics
What do physicists actually do?
www.le.ac.uk/physics
What do physicists actually do?
Academic Research
Industrial Research
IT Industry
Teaching
Space Industry
Defence industry
Meteorology
Medicine
An awful lot of things!
100,000 STEM graduates needed in the UK per year…
…we will need 830,000 by 2020
Physics contributes over £70 bn per year to the UK economy
Physicists starting salaries are 16% higher than other disciplines (except medicine and law)
Source: Institute of Physics
www.iop.org/careers/future-with-physics/
www.le.ac.uk/physics
What do physicists actually do?
Academic Research
Industrial Research
IT Industry
Teaching
Space Industry
Defence industry
Meteorology
MedicineContributes £8 bn to UK economy each year
predicted to grow to £40 bn by 2030
www.iop.org/careers/future-with-physics/
www.le.ac.uk/physics
What do physicists actually do?
Academic Research
Industrial Research
IT Industry
Teaching
Space Industry
Defence industry
Meteorology
Medicine
Low-Carbon technology £112 bn worldwide
Nanotechnology: World market £10 bn to £180 bnAdvanced materials : £1.1 bn in the UK aloneSource: BIS economics paper 10A
www.iop.org/careers/future-with-physics/
www.le.ac.uk/physics
What do physicists actually do?
Academic Research
Industrial Research
IT Industry
Teaching
Space Industry
Defence industry
Meteorology
Medicine
www.iop.org/careers/future-with-physics/
www.le.ac.uk/physics
What do physicists actually do?
Academic Research
Industrial Research
IT Industry
Teaching
Space Industry
Defence industry
Meteorology
Medicine
www.iop.org/careers/future-with-physics/
CERN is brilliant!
www.le.ac.uk/physics
What do physicists actually do?
Academic Research
Industrial Research
IT Industry
Teaching
Space Industry
Defence industry
Meteorology
Medicine
I am currently working on the ExoMars rover. My role is to integrate the system that gets the picture from the cameras and sends it to the navigation software which generates 3D maps of the terrain.
I am currently employed by EDF Energy as a Nuclear Graduate. I have visited various nuclear stations, and worked on high profile projects which affect the lifetime, productivity and safety of the station.
www.le.ac.uk/physics
Careers in physicswhat do physicists do?
Physics as a route to other careers- and why physicists are always in demand
Some statistics!
Life as a professional Astrophysicisthow to get into academic research- and what you do once you get there
www.le.ac.uk/physics
Physics as a route to other careers- and why physicists are always in demand
Problem solvingAnalysis
MathematicalInformation technology
ExperimentalSoftware skills
TeamworkLeadershipInitiativeCommunicationPresentationBusiness awareness
www.le.ac.uk/physics
Civil Service
The Media
Finance
Accountancy
Physics as a route to other careersCommerce
Law
Management
Sales/Marketing
Physicists are never short of job opportunities!
Employment figures from the
Institute of Physics
www.le.ac.uk/physics
Careers in physicswhat do physicists do?
Physics as a route to other careers- and why physicists are always in demand
Some statistics!
Life as a professional Astrophysicisthow to get into academic research- and what you do once you get there
www.le.ac.uk/physics
www.le.ac.uk/physics
Salary Figures from Institute of Physics
www.le.ac.uk/physics
Careers in physicswhat do physicists do?
Physics as a route to other careers- and why physicists are always in demand
Some Statistics!
Life as a professional Astrophysicisthow to get into academic research- and what you do once you get there
www.le.ac.uk/physics
How to get into academic research
Step 1 - get a 2.1 or 1st class MPhys degree on an IOP accredited course
Midlands Universities (MPhys entry grades1)Loughborough University (AAA)University of Birmingham (A*AA)University of Leicester (AAB)University of Nottingham (AAB-AAA)University of Warwick (A*AA)
1 Source: IOP ‘Physics on Course’
University of Leicester (AAAA)Physics with Space Science and Technology
www.le.ac.uk/physics
Step 2 – get a PhD
All areas should be open to you – although final year project may be important
Find an area that you’re interested in!
Find a University and a supervisor with a good reputation in that field!
University of LeicesterSupervisor: Dr Richard JamesonPhD in Galactic Cluster Dwarfs
How to get into academic research
www.le.ac.uk/physics
Step 3 – postdoctoral research
Life as a professional astrophysicist
www.le.ac.uk/physics
Life as an astrophysicist
Use telescopes
Process data
Analyse data (laboratory skills/computer programming)
Write up the results in a report
Present work to other scientists
Present work to the public
www.le.ac.uk/physics
What does an astronomer do?
Use telescopes
www.le.ac.uk/physics
What does an astronomer do?
Use telescopes
www.le.ac.uk/physics
What does an astronomer do?
Process data
www.le.ac.uk/physics
What does an astronomer do?
Measure line positions and strengths
Measure motions of stars
Measure brightness of stars
Figure out what my results mean
Explain why they are important
Analyse my data
www.le.ac.uk/physics
What does an astronomer do?
WDWDPlanet/BD Planet/BD
Analyse my data
www.le.ac.uk/physics
What does an astronomer do?
Analyse my data
www.le.ac.uk/physics
What does an astronomer do?
Analyse my data
www.le.ac.uk/physics
What else have I learned by being an astronomer?
How to think outside the box
How to relate my work to the public
How to write clear, concise reports
How to computer programme
How to use statistics
How to understand errors and uncertainties
www.le.ac.uk/physics
How do you become an astronomer? Take physics and maths at A level Degree in physicsI did: Physics, Maths, Chemistry A2 level German A1 level MPhys degree in Physics with Space Science and Technology PhD in astronomy
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